From The Hotline Latest Edition for Monday, May 12,2008

BUSH

And A Good Time Was Had By All

Mon. May 12, 2008


Although Pres. Bush "spent months joking about being a father of the bride," he was "downright wistful" 5/11 about giving his daughter, Jenna, away to her "longtime beau," Henry Hager, this weekend.

Bush, prior to boarding Air Force One in Waco, TX, on 5/11: "Our little girl, Jenna, married a really good guy, Henry Hager. ... The wedding was spectacular. It's just -- it's all we could have hoped for." More Bush, on the 5/10 wedding, which took place at his 1,600-acre ranch in Crawford, TX: "The weather cooperated nicely. Just as the vows were exchanged, the sun set over our lake and it was just a special day and a wonderful day and we're mighty blessed."

A reporter asked Bush if he had been up late partying. Bush "winked, then turned toward the plane, ignoring a second question about whether the wedding had given the slumping U.S. economy a boost" (Reichmann, AP, 5/11).

Among the highlights from the limited media coverage of the wedding:

• "Yes, Jenna Bush is now Jenna Hager, taking the name of her new husband."

• "Yes, the president cried at the ceremony" (Argetsinger/Hesse, Washington Post, 5/12).

• "More than 200 family and friends were entertained by the Tyrone Smith Revue, a 10-piece party band" from Nashville, TN. The musicians "gave the newlyweds what Smith described as a 'get down' party."

• Bush and J. Bush "glided across the dance floor" to Joe Cocker's "You are so Beautiful." The newlyweds danced to "Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes" by Taj Mahal.

• Officiating the ceremony was the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell -- "an influential minister from Houston and longtime spiritual adviser" to Bush. Caldwell has also endorsed Barack Obama.

• For the rehearsal dinner, guests ate lemon-crusted rainbow trout and grilled pork tenderloin over roasted corn pudding. It was Hager's 30th birthday, so they also enjoyed a "lemony, vanilla cake." Dave Hermann, owner of The Range Restaurant in Salado, TX, where the dinner was held: "Lots of people gave toasts. ... Henry shared some funny stories about dating Jenna and said something about how he couldn't wait to be the son [the Bushes never had]."

• After the rehearsal dinner, the crowd "went to a 'Texas-sized' celebration down the street," escorted "by a high school marching band" from Belton, TX, which played "Happy Birthday" and "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You" (AP, 5/11).

• More details from the rehearsal dinner after-party: "A Southwestern buffet, an open bar, guests drinking Shiner Bock and Dos Equis from clear plastic cups on which 'Jenna and Henry' was written in gold." The "young-skewing crowd looked extremely preppy." Karl Rove did "bust a move a little bit," according to Silver Spur Theater owner John Grainger Esch. He "described Jenna and Henry as the best dancers in the room," but "I don't know if that's saying much" (Washington Post, 5/12).

Click here to see photos from the wedding.